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NiB Re-post review: Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula

Another re-post of one of my book reviews from the soon-to-be-totally-defunct Nerds in Babeland. This on a Sherlock Holmes pastiche.

Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula by Loren D. Estleman

What a fun romp of a book! I read this in one sitting, because it moves so very very fast. This book reads like a tight procedural detective TV show.

What I liked:

-Holmes’ characterization

-the friendship between Holmes and Watson

-so very very action packed!

-a wonderful array of tropes from Sherlockiana that we Sherlock nerds know, want, and love.

-references to Doyle. Quotes even.

What I did not so much:

-I dunno about the combination between Sherlock Holmes and supernatural forces. I mean, Estleman did a good job as far as it goes–I will say he keeps Holmes totally in character throughout, and does seem to have done his research.

-references to Doyle. Quotes even. It’s the so-close-to-a-quote thing throughout that I find a tetch grating. The dialogue after the boat chase scene is nearly verbatim from The Empty House. Why this irked me when the references of Moffatt, Gatiss, and Adams make me squee, I’m not sure. Actually, I need to re-read it and get back to you on that.